Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. See our User Agreement and Privacy Policy.

Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. See our Privacy Policy and User Agreement for details.

4.
IS : 2386 ( Part I ) - 1963
Indian Standard
METHODS OF TEST FOR
AGGREGATES FOR CONCRETE
PART I PARTICLE SIZE AND SHAPE
0. FOREWORD
0.1 This Indian Standard (&rt I) was adopted by the Indian Standards
Institution on 22 August 1963, after the draft finalized by the Cement
and Concrete Sectional Committee had been approved by the Building
Division Council.
0.2 One of the major contributing factors to the quality of concrete is
the quality of aggregates used therein. The test methods given in this
standard are intended to assist in assessing the quality of aggregates. In
a given situation, for a particular aggregate, it may not be necessary to
assess all the qualities and therefore it is necessary to determine before-
hand the purpose for which a concrete is being used and the qualities of
the aggregate which require to be assessed. Accordingly, the relevant
test methods may be chosen from amongst the various tests covered in
this standard. For the convenience of the users, the test methods are
grouped into the following eight parts of Indian Standard Methods of
Test for Aggregates for Concrete ( IS : 2386-1963 ):
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Particle Size and Shape
Estimation of DeIeterious Materials and Organic
Impurities
Specific Gravity, Density, Voids, Absorption and Bulking
Mechanical Properties
Soundness
Measuring Mortar Making Properties of Fine Aggreg: _:’
Alkali Aggregate Reactivity
Petrographic Examination
0.3 The Sectional Committee responsible for the preparation’ of this
standard has taken into consideration the views of the concrete special-
ists, testing authorities, consumers and technologists and has related the
standard to the practices followed in this country. Further the need for
3

5.
.’
1s : 2386 ( Part I ) - 1963
international co-ordination among standards prevailing in different
countries of the world has also beenrecognized. These considerations led
the Sectional Committee to derive assistance from the published standards
~anclpublications of the following organizations:
British Standards Institution
American Society for Testing and Materials
0.4 Wherever a reference to any Indian Standard appears in these
methods, it shall be taken as a reference to its latest version.
0.5 For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this
standard is complied with, the final value, observed or calculated, expres-
sing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accordance
with IS : 2-1960 Rules for Rounding Off Numerical Values ( Revised).
The number of significant places retained in the rounded off value should
be the same as that of the specified value in this standard.
0.6 This standard is intended chieily to cover the technical provisions
relating to testing of aggregates for concrete, and it does not cover all the
necessary provisions of a contract.
1. SCOPE
1.1 This standard ( Part I ) covers the following tests for aggregates for
concrete:
4
b)
C)
4
e>
Sieve analysis,
Determination of materials finer than 75-micron,
Determination of flakiness index,
Determination of elongation index, and
Determination of angularity number.
2. SIEVE ANALYSIS
2.1 Object - This method covers the procedure for the determination of
particle size distribution of fine, coarse and all-in-aggregates by
sieving or screening.
2.2 Apparatus
2.2.1 Sieves - Sieves of the sizes given in Table I, conforming to
IS : 460-1962 Specification for Test Sieves ( Revised) shall be used.
4

6.
IS : 2386 ( Part I ) - 1963
!
L
TABLE I IS SIEVES FOR SIEVE ANALYSIS OF
AGGREGATES FOR CONCRETE
( Clause 2.2.1 )
TYPE
Square hole, perforated plate
Fine mesh, wire cloth
SIF.VE DESIGNATIONS
80-mm, 63-mm, 50-mm, 40-mm, 31*5-mm,
25-mm, 20-mm, 16-mm, 12’5-mm, lo-mm,
6*3-mm, 4*75-mm
3*35-mm, 2*36-mm, l’l%mm, 600.micron,
300-micron, 150-micron, 75-micron
2.2.2 Balance - The balance or scale shall be such that it is readable
and accurate to 0.1 percent of the weight of the test sample.
2.3 Sample - The weight of sample available shall be not less than the
weight given in Table II. The sample for sieving ( see Table II ) shall
be prepared from the larger sample either by quartering or by means of
a sample divider,
TABLE II MINIMUM WEIGHTS FOR SAMPLING
MAXIMUM SIZE PRESENT MINIMUM Werc~rr~ OF
IN SUBSTANTIAT. SAMPLE DESPAT~~IIEI)
PROP~RTIOX~ FOE TEwITc
II? m
63
50
40
25
20
16
12%
10.0
6.3
kg
100
100
30
5U
23
2.5
12
6
3
2.4 Test Prodedure for Coarse and Fine Aggregate
2.4.1 The sample shall be brought to an air-dry condition before
weighing and sieving. This may be achieved either by drying at room
temperature or by heating at a temperature of 100” to 110°C. The air-dr)
sample shall be weighed and sieved successively on the appropri;tte
sieves starting with the largest. Care shall be taken tocnsurc that the
sieves are clean before use.

7.
IS : 2386 ( Part I ) - 1963
2.4.2 Each sieve shall be shaken separately over a clean tray until not
more than a trace passes, but in any case for a period of not less than
two minutes. The shaking shall be done with a varied motion, back-
wards and forwards, left to right, circular clockwise and anti-clockwise,
and with frequent jarring, so that the material is kept moving over the
.sieve surface in frequently changing dirkctions. Material shall not be
forced through the sieve by hand pressure, but on sieves coarser than
20 mm, placing of particles is permitted. Lumps of fine material, if
present, may be broken by gentle pressure with fingers against the side
of the sieve. Light brushing with a soft brush on the under side of the
sieve may be used to clear the sieve openings.
2.4.3 Light brushing with a fine camel hair brush may be used on the
150-micron and 75-micron IS Sieves to prevent aggregation of powder
and blinding of apertures. Stiff or worn out brushes shall not be used
for this purpose and pressure shall not be applied to the surface of the
sieve to force particles through the mesh.
i 2.4.3.1 On completion of sieving, the material retained on each
sieve, together with any material cleaned from the mesh, shall be
weighed.
2.4.4 In order to prevent bindin g of the sieve apertures by over-
loading, the amount of aggregate placed on each sieve shall be such that
the wei$t of the aggregate retained on the sieve at completion of the
operation is not greater than the value given for that sieve in Table III.
Sample weights given in Table IV will thus normally require several
operations on each sieve.
SOTIS1 -- For rn8n.y routine ~~~rp~ses mechanical sieving is .tdvantageous,
knit if t,his method is 11se<1,COW should he t,aktxn to erls~~e that, the sieving is
cTmplotc.
SOTI<: _’ - The following ilitornative procedure is permissif)ir where it is re_
(jltir.ed to tletewnine only the rlrmulative percentage figures:
The cnlnulat.ive weight passing envh sieve shell be calculated as a pel’.
centape of lho total sample weight.
NOTE 3 - If sieving is carried out with a nest of sieves on a machine, not
less than 10 rnimltes sieving will he required for each test.
2.5 Test Procedure for All-in-Aggregates, or Mixed Coarse and Fine
Aggregates-The weight of sample available shall not be less than the
6

9.
IS : 2386 ( Part I ) - 1963
2.5.1 In some cases the sieve analysis of .all-in-aggregate can be carried
out in accordance with the procedure given in 2.4. Frequently, however,
this will result in heavy overloading of the finer sieves. In such cases it
will be necessary to make a preliminary separation of the all-in-aggregate
into two fractions, coarse and fine, using for this purpose a convenient
sieve for example, a 3.35mm or 4.75mm IS Sieve.
2.5.2 If the amount of either the coarse or fine aggregate obtained as
above is substantially less than that required for testing in accordance
with Table IV, another sample shall be taken which is sufficiently large
to produce an adequate sample of both the coarse and the fine aggregate.
If the amount of either the coarse or the fine aggregate thus obtained is
substantially greater than that required for testing, it shall be reduced by
quartering or by means of a sample divider.
2.6 Reporting of Results - The results shall be calculated and reported
as:
a) the cumulative percentage by weight of the total sample passing
each of the sieves, to the nearest whole number (see Note
under 2.6.1); or
b) the percentage by weight of the total sample passing one sieve
and retained on the next smaller sieve, to the nearest 0.1 percent.
2.6.1 Graphical Method of Recording Results - The results of sieve
analysis may be recorded graphically on the chart for recording sieve
analysis shown in Fig. 1.
NOTE- It is recommended that cumulative percentage figures should be used
for comparison with specification requirements, or for reporting results gra-
phically.
3. DETERMINATION OF MATERIALS FINER THAN 75-MICRON
3.1 Object - This method of test deals with the procedure for determin-
ing the total quantity of material finer than 75micron IS Sieve in
aggregates by washing.
NOTE- Clay particles that are dispersed by wash water as well as water
soluble materials will be removed from the aggregate during the test.
3.2 Apparatus - The apparatus shall consist of the following:
a) Balance -The balance or scale shall be of sufficient capacity
and sensitivity ( see 3.3.1 and 3.4.1 ) and shall have an accuracy
of 0.1 percent of the weight of the test sample.
8

11.
IS:2386(Part I)-1963
h) Sieve - A nest of two sieves, the lower being 75-micron IS Sieve
and the upper approximately l-18-mm IS Sieve [see IS : 460-1962
Specification for Test Sieves ( Revised )I.
c) Container -- A pan or vessel of a size sufficient to contain the
sample covered with water and to permit of vigorous agitation
without inadvertent loss of any part of the sample or water.
d) Oven - An oven of sufficient size capable of maintaining an
uniform temperature of llO”f5”C.
3.3 Sample - The test sample shall be selected from material which has
been thoroughly mixed and which contains sufficient moisture to prevent
segregation. A representative sample, sutf’icient to yield not less than the
appropriate weiaht of dried material, as shown below, shall be selected:
Maximum Nominal Approximate Minimum
Size of Aggregate Weight of Sample
mm g
4.75 500
10’0 2000
20 2 500
40 or over 5 000
3.4 Procedure
3.4.1 The test sample shall be dried to constant weight at a tempera-
ture of llO”f5”C and weighed to the nearest 0.1 percent.
3.4.2 The test sample after being dried and weighed shall be placed in
the container and sufficient water added to cover it. I he contents of the
container shall be agitated vigorously.
3.4.3 The agitation shall be sufficiently vigorous to result in the
complete separation from the coarse particles of all particles finer than
75-micron and bring the fine material into suspension.
Care shall be taken to avoid, as much as possible, the decantation of
the coarse particles of the sample. The operation shall be repeated until
the wash water is clear.
3.4.4 The wash water containing the suspended and dissolved solids
shall be immediately poured over the nested sieves arranged with the
coarser sieve on the top.
10

12.
IS:2386(PartI)-1963
3.4.5 All material retained on the nested sieves shall be returned to
the washed sample. The washed aggregate shall be dried to constant
weight at a temperature not exceeding 110°C and weighed to the nearest
0.1 percent.
3.5 Calculation -The amount of material passing the 75-micron IS Sieve
shall be calculated as follows:
A= B--c- x 100
B
where
A = percentage of material finer than 75-micron,
B = original dry weight, and
C = dry weight after washing.
4. DETERMINATION OF FLAKINESS INDEX
4.1 Object-This method of test lays down the procedure for determin-
ing the flakiness index of coarse aggregate.
NOTE -- The flakiness index of an aggregate is the percentage by weight of
particles in it whose least dimension ( thickness ) is less than three-fifth8 of their
mean dimenaion. The test is not applicable to sizes smaller than 6*S mm.
4.2 Apparatus - The apparatus shall consist of the following:
a) Balance-The balance shall be of suficient capacity and
sensitivity ( see 4.4.3 ) and shall have an accuracy of 0.1 percent
of the weight of the test sample.
b) Metal Gauge -- The metal gauge shall be of the pattern shown in
Fig. 2.
c) Sieves - IS Sieves of sizes shown in Table V.
4.3 Sample -- A quantity of aggregate shall be taken sufficient to provide
the minimum number of 200 pieces of any fraction to be tested.
4.4 Procedure
4.4.1 Sieving - The sample shall be sieved in accordance with the
method described in 3 with the sieves specified in Table V.
4.4.2 Separation of Flaky h4aterial- Each fraction shall be gauged
in turn for thickness on a metal gauge of the pattern shown in Fig. 2 or
in bulk on sieves having elongated slots. The width of the slot used in
11

14.
IS : 2386 ( Part I ) - 1963
the gauge or sieve shall be of the dimensions specified in co1 3 of Table V
for the appropriate size of material.
TABLE V DIMENSIONS OF THICKNESS AND LENGTH GAUGES
(Clauses 4.2, 4.4.1, 4.4.2, 5.2 and 5.4.1 )
SIZE OF AQQBE~ATE
r------- h______-__~
Pass$gTFeough Retained On
i IS Sieve
(1) (2)
THICENE~S GAUC+E*
(3)
mm
LENQTH GanaEt
(4)
mm
63-mm
50-mm
40-mm
31*&mm
25-mm
20-mm
16-mm
12.5-mm
1O-mm
50-mm
40-mm
25-mm
P&mm
20-mm
16-mm
12%mm
lo-mm
6.3-mm
33.90
27.00
19.60
16’95
13’50
10.80
8’55
6’75
4.89
ST0
58’6
4;5
32.4
25%
262
14.7
*This dimension is equal to 0.6 times the mean sieve size.
tThis dimension is equal to I.8 times the mean sieve size.
4.4.3 Weighing of Flaky Material - The total amount passing the
gauge shall be weighed to an accuracy of at least 0.1 percent ofthe
weight of the test sample.
4.5 Reporting of Results - The flakiness index is the total weight of the
material passing the various thickness gauges or sieves, expressed as a
percentage of the total weight of the sample gauged.
5. DETERMINATION OF ELONGATION INDEX
5.1 Object - This method of test lays down the procedure for determin-
ing the elongation index of coarse aggregate.
NOTE - The elongation index of an aggregate is the percentage by weight
of particles whose greatest dimension ( length ) is greater than one and four-fifths
times their mean dimension. Normally, the properties of interest to the engineer
are sufficiently covered by the flakiness or angularity tests. The elongation
test is not applicable to sizes smaller than 6.3 mm.
13

15.
IS : 2386 ( Part I ) - 1963
5.2Apparatus - The apparatus shall consist of the following:
a>
b)
4
Balance - The balance shall be of sufficient capacity and sensiti-
vity (see 5.4.3 ) and shall have an accuracy of 0’1 percent of the
weight of the test sample.
Metal Gauge - The metal gauge shall be of the pattern shown in
Fig. 3.
Sieves - IS Sieves of the sizes shown in Table V.
5.3 Sample - A quantity of aggregate shail be taken, sufficient to provide
a minimum number of 200 pieces of any fraction to be tested.
5.4 Procedure
5.4.1 Sieving - The sample shall be sieved in accordance with the
method described in 3 with the sieves specified in Table V.
5.4.2 Separation of Elongated Material- Each fraction shall be
gauged individually for length on a metal length gauge of the pattern
shown in Fig. 3. The gauge length used shall be that specified in co1 4
of Table V for the appropriate size of material.
5.4.3 Weighing of Elongated Material - The total amount retained by
the length gauge shall be weighed to an accuracy of at least 0.1 percent
of the weight of the test sample.
5.5 Report of Results - The elongation index is the total weight of the
material retained on the various length gauges, expressed as a percentage
of the total weight of the sample gauged.
6. DETERMINATION OF ANGULARITY NUMBER
6.1Object - This method of test lays down the procedure for determin-
ing the angularity number of coarse aggregate.
NOTE 1- Angulsrity or absence of rounding of the particles of an aggre-
gate is 8 property which is of importance because it 8ffeCts the ease of handling
of n mixture of aggregate and binder, for example the workebility of concrete,
or the st8bility of mixtures thet rely on the interlocking of. the perticles. It
is emphesixed that this is e laboratory method intended for comparing the proper-
ties of different aggregetes for mix ,design purposes.
NOTE 2 - Since considersbly more effort is used then in the test for bulk
density end voids [ see IS : 2336 ( Part III )-1963 1,the results of the two tests are
different. Also weeker 8ggreg&es may be orusbed during compection, end the
anguleritynumber test does not apply to any aggregete which breaks down
during the test.
14

16.
IS : 2386 ( Part I) - 1963
6.2 Apparatus - The apparatus shall consist of the following:
a>
b)
cl
Metal Cylinder-A metal cylinder closed at one end and of
about 3 litres capacity, the diameter and height of which shall be
approximately equal, for example 15 cm and 15 cm. The cylinder
shall be made from metal of thickness not less than 3 mm and
shall be of sufficient rigidity to retain. its shape under rough
usage.
Tamping Rod - A straight metal tamping rod of circular cross-
section of 16 mm diameter and 60 cm long, rounded at one end.
Balance -Balance or scale of capacity 10 kg readable to one
gram.
d) Scoop - A metal scoop approximately 20 x 12 x 5 cm, that is,
about 1-litre heaped capacity.
6.3 Calibration of the Cylinder-The cylinder shall be calibrated by
determining to the nearest gram the weight of water at 27°C required to
fill it, so that no meniscus is present above the rim of the container.
6.4 Preparation of the Test Sample - The amo.unt of aggregate available
shall be sufficient to provide, after separation on the appropriate pair of
sieves, at least 10 kg of the predominant size, as determined by the sieve
analysis on the 20-mm, 16-mm, 12*5-inm; lo-mm, 6.3-mm and 4.75~mm
IS Sieves.
6.4.1 The test sample shall consist of aggregate retained between the
appropriate pair of IS Sieves ( square mesh ) from the following sets:
20-mm and 16-mm
16-mm and 12*5-mm
12*5-mm and lo-mm
lo-mm and 6.3-mm
6*3-mm and 4*75-mm
NOTE - In testing aggregates larger than 20 mm, the volume of the cylinder
shall be greater than 3 litres, but for aggregate smaller than 4.75 mm a,smeller
cylinder may be used. The procedure shall be the Bame as with 3 litre cylin-
der. except that the amount of compsctive effect ( weight of tamping rod x height
of fall x number of blows ) shell be proportioned to the volume of the cylinder.
6.4.2 The aggregate to be tested shall be dried for at least 24 hours in
shallow trays in a well ventilated oven at a temperature of 100” to 1lO”C,
cooled in an air-tight container and tested.
16

17.
IS : 2386( Part I ) - 1963
6.5 Test Procedure -The scoop shall be filled and heaped to ovcr-
flowing with the aggregate, which shall be placed ir: the cylinder by
allowing it to slide gently off the scoop from the least height possible.
6.5.1 The aggregate in the cylinder shall be subjected to 100 blows of
the tamping rod at a rate of about 2 blows per second. Each blow shall
be applied by holding the rod vertical with its rounded end 5 cm above
the surface of the aggregate and releasing it so that it falls freely. No
force shall be applied to the rod. The 100 blows shall he evenly dis-
tributed over the surface of the aggregate.
6.5.2 The process of filling and tampirlg shall be repeated exactly as
described above with a second and third layer of aggregates; the third
layer shall contain just sufficient aggregate to fill the cylinder level with
the top edge before tamping.
6.5.3 After the third layer has been tamped, the cylinder shall be filled
to overflowing, and the aggregate struck off level with the top using the
tamping rod as a straight edge. ,
6.5.4 Individual pieces shall then be added and ‘rolled-in’ to the
surface by rolling the tamping rod across the upper edge of the cylinder,
and this finishing process shall be continued as long as the aggregate
does not lift the rod off the edge of the cylinder on either side. The
aggregate shall not be pushed in or otherwise forced down, and no down-
ward pressure shall be applied to the tamping rod, which shall roll in
contact with the metal on both sides of the cylinder.
6.5.5 The aggregate in the cylinder shall then be weighed to the
nearest 5 grams.
6.5.6 Three separate determinations shall be made, and the mean
weight of aggregate in the cylinder calculated. If the result of any one
determination differs from the mean by more than 25 grams, three
additional determinations shall immediately be made on the same
material and the mean of all the six determinations calculated.
6.6 Calculation - The angularity number shall be calculated from the
formula:
loo W
Angularity number = 67 - CG
A
where
W = mean weight in g of the aggregate in the cylinder,
C = weight of water in g required to fill the cylinder, and
G, = specific gravity of aggregate.
6.7 Reporting of Results - The angularity number shall be expressed to
the nearest whole ember.
17

19.
AMENDMENT ND. 1 JANUARY 1983
TO
IS:2386(Fart I)-1963 METHODS OF TEST FOR
AGGREGATES FOR CONTRETE
PART I .P/RTICLESIZE AND SHAPE
Alteration-a---
[Pqe II, c&use 4.2(b)] - Substitute the
following for the existing matter:
'b) JfetaZGauge - The metal gauge shall be of
the pattern shown in Fig. 2 with elongeted
slots of dimensions indicated in Fit. 2.
The tolerence on dimensions shall be + 0.20 mm
for dimensions equal to or more than 70 mm and
2 0.10 mm for dimensions less thcri50 mm.'
(ZDC 2)
Reprography Unit, BIS, New Delhi, India

20.
AMENDMENT NO. 2 OCTOBER 1991
TO
IS 2386 ( Part 1) : 1963 METHODS OF TEST
AGGREGATES FOR CONCRETE
PART1 PARTICLE SIZE AND SHAPE
(Page 12, Fig. 2 ) - Substitute ‘40 to 31S’for ‘40 to 25’.
(Page 13, Table V, coZ2,third entry ) - Substitute ‘3Gmm’ for
FOR
‘25mm’.
(Page 13, clause 4.43 ) - Substitute the following for the existing clause :
‘4.43 The number of pieces passing the appropriate gauge in each size fraction
shall be counted separately. The total mass of each size fraction of the sample also
shall be determined.’
(Page 13, clause 45 ) - Substitute the following for the existing clause:
“4.5 Calculation and Reporting of Results
45.1 The number of pieces passing the appropriate gauge in each fraction
shall be calculated as a percentage of the total number of pieces in each sieve
fraction (x) . The mass of total number of pieces in each sieve fraction shall then
be calculated as a percentage of the total mass of the whole sample (y). The
weighted percentage of the mass of pieces passing the appropriate gauge in each
sieve fraction shall then be calculated by multiplying ‘x’ by ‘y’.
4.53 The flakiness index shall be expressed as the sum of weighted
percentages of the material passing the appropriate gauge in each sieve fraction.
If squired, the flakiness index for each sieve fraction may be reported as
weighted percentage of the material passing the appropriate gauge.”
(CED2)
ReprographyUnit, BIS, New Delhi, India

21.
.
.
AMENDMENT NO. 3 SEPTEMBER 1997
TO
IS 2386( PART 1) : 1963 METHODS OF TEST FOR
AGGREGATES FOR CONCRmE
PART 1 PARTICLE SIZE AND SHAPE
(To be rud with Amendment No. 2) ’
(Page 1% Fig. 2 ) - SutMitute‘2150’ for ‘19.50’.
(Page 13, TubleV, he 3, co13 ) - Substitute ‘21JO’for‘1950’. . I
( Page 13, Table V, line 3, co14 ) - Substitute W.4 for ‘58.5’.
(Page 13, clause 45 ) - Substitutethe following for the existing clause: ’ *
‘45 Calculation nod Reporting of Result
45.1 ‘Ibe mass of pieces passing the appropriategauge in each sieve fraction ’
shall be calculated as a percentage of mass of the total numberof pieces in each /
fraction (x) . The mass of total number of pieces in each sieve shall then be
calculated as a percentage of the total mass of the whole sample that is the
sample which is retainedon 6.3 mm sieve (y). The weighted pcramtagc of the
mass of the pieces passing the appropriategauge in each sieve fraction shall then
be calculated by multiplying ‘x’ by ‘y’. i
(CED53)
.’